New users who love Linux?

[linuxadvocate]

I'm looking for 'testimonials' from people who have made the switch (from you-know-what :( to you-know-what :D ). It doesn't have to be entirely positive-- I want to hear the good and the bad.

If you're interested, I'll ask you a few questions about the experience via email. Please see the feedback page on linuxadvocate.org (http://linuxadvocate.org), or email feedback@linuxadvocate.org with a few details about your experience and we'll be in touch!

linuxadvocate.org exists to teach non-technical people about Linux, to support people in trying Linux, and to get the word out through awareness programs. If you are passionate (yet levelheaded) about Linux, we'd love some help. Details at linuxadvocate.org/feedback.php (http://linuxadvocate.org/feedback.php) .

Thanks!

Ian

[RodNICE]

I love Linux... but at this point, Linux sux!

It's kinda like having a supermodel girlfriend with a demanding attitude.

[XiaoKJ]

Mine must be a good testimonial -- Linux just works on computers! But my story is damn long(of course not as long as our dear mods) and I don't have the time to type it out...:D

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by RodNICE
I love Linux... but at this point, Linux sux!

It's kinda like having a supermodel girlfriend with a demanding attitude.

You do need to have 'something upstairs' in order to use Linux. It's nothing at all like that other 'toy' OS. If you are not bright enough to read the documentation and then figure out how to fix your problems, use something else.

RodNICE (aka RodBAD)... what the hell are you doing on a Linux site if you feel that Linux 'sux'? :confused:

I don't hang around MS sites complaining about Windows.

[WayStar]

My first experience with Linux was my first attempt at installing. I could install okay, but X wouldn't work with my video card. It was RH 6.something. I tried to kluge it into working, but had no clue what I was doing. :D

A quick search online (I kept the Win98 partition so I could still run terragen) told me that it was a known issue, and the best solution was to try installing 7.2 instead. Since I'd been drinking, I had a friend drive me to a bookstore where I picked it up. Much quicker than trying to download on dialup. Besides, that way I had a book, too!

Another install attempt and several beers later, I was running RH 7.2, and on to my next challenge: getting the winmodem to work. I didn't know what I was doing, but I was able to follow cookbook instructions on compiling the driver and installing it.

Those first months were so exciting! Every day a new problem to figure out and solve. Every day I came another step closer to making my system into exactly what I wanted it to be.

-Waylena

[lpaulgib]

My favorite thing about Linux other than all the free software is all the smart people associated with it. With Windows, you have a bunch of idiots trying to do tech support for it. With Linux, it's nearly 100% people who know their ****. All the Linux techies I've talked to seem informative, actually know english, and are friendly.

[XiaoKJ]

Originally posted by lpaulgib
My favorite thing about Linux other than all the free software is all the smart people associated with it. With Windows, you have a bunch of idiots trying to do tech support for it. With Linux, it's nearly 100% people who know their ****. All the Linux techies I've talked to seem informative, actually know english, and are friendly.
Thats not true -- many linux users in europe don't recognise english, and so does chinese users.

But linux users tend to be more informative thats true...

[Parcival]

Thats not true -- many linux users in europe don't recognise english

I highly disagree with you on this one. Young people all over Europe know English better than ever before in the history of the continent; the influence of English is so strong that it's being used more and more even in our native languages (like nobody would rise an eyebrow here if you asked for "food" instead of "Essen" at a restaurant or bought a "computer" instead of a "Rechner" at a computer place).

The French are the only ones having laws to keep English out of their language; the rest of Europe is adopting English faster than ever. I'm surely not the average John-Sixpack type of Swiss, but my Linux installation is English, the forums and the documentation I use are in English, books and papers at the university are in English... we are living in the information age, and one is the more successfull the faster one gets access to larger sources of information - which are most of the time encoded in English. Being able to read and write in good and proper English is a must-have qualification nowadays.

[Yosuke_]

WayStar, my first Linux experience was allmost the same as your's. Only diference, that my monitor was too old. Now I have LCD monitor, and I happy to run Linux. :D

[evangelinux]

I don't know if I'm new enough or not. I started with a book and Red Hat 5.2. The book included Caladera Linux, but their installation failed. So I kept playing with Red Hat. When they adopted the MS-styled installation process, I migrated to Mandrake 8.0. After all, why in tarnation would anyone migrate to the same thing?

I absolutely hated the SUSE logo and ads I saw, right up 'till the 8.0 version. When I saw their clean boot screen and desktop, I made the migration again. I wasn't really a serious Linux user yet, either. I used Windows more than Linux in those days.

Now I'm learning the joys of Bashing around in bash. Who'd a thunk the command line could be fun? All I can say is that I'm fully a converted Linux freak that hardly ever uses Windows at home. It's been a slow process for me, but I'm now a contributing member of the open source community.

The greatest thing about migrating, for me, was the lack of trouble installing printers. Installing printers under Red Hat, Mandrake and SUSE has always been a breeze. Configuring CUPS over a network is another story.

[fryem720]

I am a recent Linux convert (although I admit that I keep a WinXP partition around). I used MS products forever, but I kept hearing about Linux. The claims of the faithful were glowing (if a bit snooty, i.e. "It's the best, but if you're too stupid to use the command line, don't bother me.") Finally, I bought the Linux for Dummies book with Fedora Core 1 on DVD. It installed on my HP laptop easily (once I figured out how to shrink my pre-installed NTFS partition to make the space) and ALL my hardware works - even if I needed to troll the forums a bit to learn how to automount my external HD. I have to say that I love Linux.... BUT. It seems there are multiple Linux camps. THere is the bleeding edge, GUI-phobic command line junkies who scoff at the idea of "dumbing down Linux for the masses." There are the expert-yet-egalitarians who are masters of the command line, occasionally use the GUI and think getting more mainstream users interested in Linux is a good idea all around. Then there are the "Everybody Can/Should Use Linux" advocates. [NOTE: I know the world is shades of gray - these are gross generalizations to illustrate a point].

Before Linux, I never used a command line. I'm still learning and it has been a slow process. I do not miss most things about Windows, but one thing I DO miss is the way I learned everything I know about Windows by not being afraid to click everything in sight. I don't seem to be able to do that in Linux.

As helpful as the community can be, as many books as I buy about Linux, it seems to me that I am always left saying, "I don't know enough yet to understand a lot of what I read on the Web, I don't need to be told step by step how to use Mozilla or Evolution, I'm not stupid but I'm not a computer science major. Is there anyplace I can go to get step by step guidance on things in plain language?" For example, I wanted to learn how to get the computer to recognize and mount my external HD when I boot up. None of the three books I bought gave me anything more than a brief description of the boot and/or mount process. The man pages helped a little, but not enough for me to put anything into effect. Forum posts were well-meant and somewhat helpful, but again, mostly over my head. Finally, after intermittent efforts over three weeks and about 80 pages of printer paper, I got things working.

Another example: How do I print out a list of installed software packages with a description of what each does? Synaptic doesn't have a print option, I don't want to take a million screenshots, and although a helpful forum user gave me a way to have rpm list all packages, I still don't know how to print out the list WITH descriptions.

It sounds like I'm complaining. In a sense, I am. But overall, I'm not. I know that nothing worth it is ever easy and I think that (for me) learning Linux is worth it. I was just hoping that the learning curve wouldn't be so formidable.

[CaptainPinko]

I feel kind of weird correcting a moderator especially considering it is mdwatts but:

Originally posted by mdwatts
You do need to have 'something upstairs' in order to use Linux. It's nothing at all like that other 'toy' OS. If you are not bright enough to read the documentation and then figure out how to fix your problems, use something else.

well for Linux to be successful it will need to become that simple as that 'toy'. What you seem to enjoy is a certain sense of computer-literate elitism. Most people treat computers as tools. If they had to learn enough to appease your type we wouldn't have enough doctors, lawyers, accountants, biologists etc. They'd all switch back to type writers. eventually the majority of linux users will be clueless omgwtf kekeke ^__^ types and then all of you will need to find another platform to gather round. Face it: a successful platform (for the desktop) will be one that panders to the broadest denominator that doesn't give a *#$@% about technology. mdwatts just made the perfect example of anti-linux advocate. Success=embracing all including the perpetually clueless.

[evangelinux]

At the risk of taking us off-topic here...

I'm starting to get into Bash, and discovering just what a toy Windows really is! :D

[automatic]

Converting from :( to :) was not easy, the first 3 month I did a lot of :mad: :confused: :rolleyes: and :eek:

Um ... I better use English here :D

Now, at the office I use Linux only PC, I'm doing IT support in a NPO. I just convert the whole division into Linux users.

At home I use Linux, but I also prepare a Windows 98 partition. In case I need to guide a windows user via tel line about how to use outlook and how to setup dial up etc. Last time I boot Windows (about a week ago) my Anti virus protest about not being update for more than 3 months. I guess I can wipe Windows Partition for more disk space soon.

I like Linux because:
1. stable, this is my favorite advantages. less call for troubleshoot in last 6 month or so ...
2. more secure: I don't know about security much, but I use firewall both at home and in the office.
3. does not change unless I make it change :) and I can't forbid other user to make changes. I think this related to security somehow but for me it is different point.
4. price, Linux is a solution for not using piracy software in my company.
5. Fun

Enjoy Linux

[JohnT]

Now, at the office I use Linux only PC, I'm doing IT support in a NPO. I just convert the whole division into Linux users Well done..:D

[Icarus]

Originally posted by automatic
Converting from :( to :) was not easy, the first 3 month I did a lot of :mad: :confused: :rolleyes: and :eek:

Um ... I better use English here :DDon't need a translation for that, made perfect since to me! :D

[RodNICE]

Originally posted by mdwatts
You do need to have 'something upstairs' in order to use Linux. It's nothing at all like that other 'toy' OS. If you are not bright enough to read the documentation and then figure out how to fix your problems, use something else.

RodNICE (aka RodBAD)... what the hell are you doing on a Linux site if you feel that Linux 'sux'? :confused:

I don't hang around MS sites complaining about Windows.

I see you have selective memory mdwatts (I shall not offend you by tweaking your username). Did not I say that I love Linux? I love my wife, but there have been times that we have had big arguments, regardless though, divorce would never be an option.

The recurring theme I'm getting from some people here is "it doesn't need to be easy, you are just too dumb to use it." In my case, I suppose I am not smart enough, but what do I tell my friends? I'm trying to get all the people I know to switch over, but if their kids can't even use it to do the little stuff, then where does that leave my case?

As bproffitt said:
The real key here is to demonstrate the savings in license fees *and* that the users will have the same functionality in Linux that they will under Windows. You cannot ignore this last part, because the more non-tech someone is, the less willing they are to depart from their "OS confort zone." I can cite dozens of technical reasons why OpenOffice is a better system than Office, but they don't matter two hoots if OpenOffice doesn't have the "same buttons to make our newsletter."

Regardless, Linux is cool.

p.s. Wouldn't it be nice if a distro of Linux would install with a, grade-school like, how-to file?


CaptainPinko: Exactly my man... your boy watts must not have had his breakfast on time I suppose.

[JohnT]

p.s. Wouldn't it be nice if a distro of Linux would install with a, grade-school like, how-to file?
He,he...wouldn't be nice if any OS would......the obstacle to surmount here is the mindset put forth by the Windows operating system. If no other OS had ever existed before Linux this discussion would be a moot point as there would be nothing to compare it too. Sure everyone knows what Linux needs to be to compete for the "average" Joe's desktop and with that in mind if you want to evangelize the advantages of Linux to your friends and family or co-workers its no one's responsibilty but your own, to formulate a learning plan and process for them to acomplish this. If that is not your desire then waiting is your only option. You cannot force people to learn or accept something different and new. A natural curiosity for learning and meeting challenges head-on is needed. Linux is not for the AOL, email, post-the-baby-pictures on MSN faction of computer users. Its not mainstream as compared to MS, but it is in usage in more places than you could imagine...Horatio.

[RodNICE]

I guess I stand corrected. But another thing, why can't it be for those people that you have described? Why not? I know Windows can be so I can't believe that Linux can not accomplish this as well.

I guess Windows has spoiled some of us when it comes to computers *sigh*... to our disadvantage.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by RodNICE
I guess I stand corrected. But another thing, why can't it be for those people that you have described? Why not? I know Windows can be so I can't believe that Linux can not accomplish this as well.

I guess Windows has spoiled some of us when it comes to computers *sigh*... to our disadvantage. There's no reason that it can't be........but I for one prefer my individual freedoms of choice and with Linux there are so many more to choose from. I hope it remains in some incarnation of its present self in the future. Listen......there are kids not even out of elementary using Linux.......some in third-world countries without any formal schooling. I relish that enthusiasm and curiosity in myself and others, its the bulding blocks of something greater........Its a shame as some grow older they lose sight of that....its what keep you young.

[madcompnerd]

I work at a small computer store, so customers call us and ask questions when they have problems. They are the typical AOL posting baby pictures users. Windows isn't for them either. Try explaining to someone that they've lost the last 2 years of digital images becayse they should have kept backups. Try explaining that downloading random applications can cause them problems, and we don't warranty that.
While I agree Linux isn't for them. I don't think Windows is either. But it is their life, and whichever path of grief and difficulty they choose causes a similar number of griping, complaining, yelling, and questioning for me. If I seem bitter, it's cause I just might be.



Hi, I started on Linux in November 2003, so I don't know if I am enough of a noob. I might be a little too technically inclined also. However, technical reasons were a small part of what kept me on Linux once I tried it. I came, I saw, and I themed. Sadly enough, I think eye-candy kept me in Linux long enough to realize "woh look at all the compilers and run-times I have preconfigured!." Then later on, "wow, there is a library for like....everything."
I was also impressed by some of the smaller applications in Linux. I loved things like Gaim (yea I know, Windows builds) and gftp. I also quickly grew to love KDE and Gnome, especially KDE. Things like virtual desktops and organized menus (I know you can organize Windows menus, but who does?).
My install had it's hardware troubles as well. It was RedHat 8.0 and I couldn't get my sound working. Finally, when RedHat 9 came out I managed to get it working, I waited I think 6 months for sound but didn't miss it too much.
I did quickly notice that g++ gives much more logical errors than vc++. VC++'s link errors were often undecipherable for me (I was a second year programming student in high school, back when AP used c++).